Atlanta Beltline Seeks Small Businesses to Apply for Next Accelerator Program

Beltline Business Ventures advises local small businesses on skills and resources to help expand in the Beltline Planning Area

The first cohort of businesses to participate in Beltline Business Ventures.

ATLANTA (Nov. 20, 2023) – The Atlanta Beltline is seeking small businesses to participate in the next Beltline Business Ventures program. The small business accelerator launched by the Beltline Business Solutions Office is free for small businesses and provides essential tools and resources for those looking to expand along the 22-mile loop. This will be the second cohort.

Beltline Business Ventures is a cohort-based program that delivers a comprehensive three-month curriculum covering business model development, market feasibility, business resiliency, workforce development, commercial leasing, and operational excellence. The program also offers one-on-one business advising with seasoned entrepreneurs and consultants along with monthly opportunities for peer-learning and networking, fostering collaboration and exchanging insights and connects businesses with resources in order to prepare for brick-and-mortar opportunities within the Atlanta Beltline Planning Area.

Application Details:

• Application Period: Opens November 20, 2023 and closes January 5, 2024

• Cohort Duration: February 6, 2024 to May 14, 2024

• Maximum Participants: Up to 25 businesses

• Participation Cost: Free for participants

Applications open November 20th and will close December 15th.  “At the core of the Beltline’s commitment to economic inclusion lies the Beltline Business Solutions Office, an essential component within our comprehensive framework,” said Atlanta Beltline’s Natalie Jones. “Through purposeful programs and initiatives, the Beltline strives to ignite inclusive economic growth for small, local, and minority-owned businesses along the corridor. This endeavor not only contributes to the wealth-building aspirations of communities in the Beltline’s Equity Priority Subareas but also propels further job creation through the sustained growth and development of these businesses.”

Beltline Business Ventures is a featured program of the Beltline Business Solutions Office, a one-stop shop connecting various programs and services tailored to assist small local businesses in their ventures along the Atlanta Beltline. The office provides direct one-on-one assistance, where businesses collaborate with the Beltline team or partners to strategize effective scaling approaches. Additionally, entrepreneurs can leverage the Partner Referral Network, a curated group of specialists providing services such as accessing capital, technical assistance, business coaching, and more. Beltline Business Ventures is executed in partnership with The Center by Lendistry and CVM Worldwide.

The Beltline Business Solutions Office gives priority to minority-owned enterprises in the west and southwest quadrants within Beltline’s Equity Priority Subareas. This prioritization aims to support communities facing historical injustices, allowing us to address longstanding systemic barriers, increase access to the tools of business success, foster growth, and positions local businesses to capitalize on the unparalleled economic opportunities arising from ongoing and extensive redevelopment efforts of the Atlanta Beltline.

The Beltline Business Solutions Office is made possible in-part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The office builds on existing programs that focus on small business support including the Façade Improvement pARTnership Grant and the Beltline Marketplace.

For more information on the Beltline Business Solutions Office and Beltline Business Ventures, please visit beltline.org/businessventures or email BeltlineVentures@atlbeltline.org.